a blog about the crafting process

Monthly Archives: September 2015

I know this now, because I could not find the yarn for my next road trip project, my Shibui Linen. It seems my memory isn’t what it use to be. This is the first time I couldn’t locate yarn in a short search of the closet.

Usually, as soon as a new member of stash arrives, I photograph it, log it into Ravelry and put it away in my closet. Wool is organized by weight, cottons and linens are on one shelf. Acrylics are grouped by color. I have have no idea how to organize by project (needles, pattern, project bag).

One of the newest members, the Shibui Linen, was planned from the beginning to be Filter by Kristin Johnstone. I thought it would be perfect road trip knitting. A few hours of searching I found the first skein. It was on the TOP shelf in a grocery bag on the bedroom of my closet. I suspect the hubby put it there. He had moved all his office stuff into that room. I KNOW he did it. I’m 5’2″ and barely reach that shelf. AND that shelf wasn’t there when it was my room.

I never found the second skein before the trip. Didn’t I buy two skeins? Do I contact the yarn shop? Too embarrassing…besides, it HAS TO BE HERE…SOMEWHERE!?!?

I finally found it in a project bag all balled up and ready to knit with pattern and needles. Definitely my fault.

But the rest of the things in that bag were set aside for an undetermined color work project. What was I thinking!!!!

Designers ask for volunteer knitters for various reasons. Usually it’s the last proof reading/knitting before publishing a pattern.

Test knit for Elizabeth Green Musselman’s Summer in Angers Shawlette

To test knit you must knit EXACTLY what is written as if you were a brand new knitter. But still have enough knowledge to know what the designer MEANT to you to knit.

Test Knit for yardage Miriam Felton’s Dalliance Shawl

I take this role seriously. I can’t be sloppy or casual. I have to sit at a table, notebook & pencil at the ready, & proof-reading each row’s instructions with care. For that reason, I don’t do it often. It takes too much mental restrain.

You see, friends, I RARELY knit a pattern as written. There is ALWAYS something I have to modify either for fit, aesthetics, or just plain laziness. Most of the time all I want is the gauge, cast on number and the basic stitch pattern and the basic structure. This is one of the reasons I haven’t started knitting sweaters.

Laura Linneman’s Up and Out Socks

Look at my projects page in Ravelry. I try to post all my modifications in the notes. Modifying a pattern is a freedom I enjoy, easy & improvised on the spot.

Test knitting is satisfying something entirely else. I LOVE HELPING designers. Exactly what the Johnson O’Connor counselor said about me being a good consultant. Someone who likes to jump in, fix a problem and move on to the next one. That’s me.

Hmmm…must be why I’m always modifying patterns.

Notes from recent test knitting

If you want to test knit, there are a few forums in Ravelry. The most active one is The Testing Pool. (I searched in Ravelry’s Groups, for ‘test’.)

The designers I follow tend to post requests on Instagram. I assume some designers use Facebook too.